Bottle closure device

ABSTRACT

The closure device (D) for closing a bottle ( 1 ) comprises an overmolded cap ( 2 ) and ferrule ( 4 ) made of two different materials and prevented from moving relative to each other by tamperproofing means ( 43 ). The device (D) further comprises fastener means ( 3, 5 ) for fastening onto the neck ( 11 ) of the bottle. A first element selected from the cap ( 2 ) and the ferrule ( 4 ) includes a peripheral tongue ( 43 ) that is placed substantially around the entire outer periphery of the device (D) and that forms the tamperproofing means. This tongue is connected to a body ( 41 ) of the first element via tearable means ( 45 ) and includes patterns ( 47 ) designed to co-operate, while the tongue is connected to the body of the first element, with complementary patterns ( 27 ) formed in the second element selected from the cap ( 2 ) and the ferrule ( 4 ).

The present invention relates to a closure device for a bottle, the device comprising a cap and a ferrule prevented from moving relative to each other by tamperproofing means.

FR-A-2 722 478 discloses fitting a bottle neck with a guarantee seal, comprising a capsule having a tamperproofing tongue for preventing the capsule from moving relative to a stopper that closes the bottle. In that device, the capsule is fastened on the neck of the bottle by snap-fastening against a ring, itself snap-fastened on a pourer device fitted to the bottle. Thus, placing that guarantee seal on the neck of a bottle is an operation that is difficult and lengthy, thereby increasing the cost of producing bottles fitted with such a seal.

FR-A-2 085 876 also discloses fitting a bottle neck with a stopper device comprising a closure proper and a finish ring, together with means for preventing movement relative to the neck of the bottle. A tamperproofing ring is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the closure and is received in a locking groove of the ring, so as to prevent the closure from turning relative to the ring. If the closure is forced to turn, the tongue deforms and enables the stopper device to be opened. Deformation of the tongue indicates that the bottle has been opened. Nevertheless, since that tongue is of limited circumferential extent, it can be deformed back again so as to be replaced in the locking groove of the ring, thereby fraudulently masking prior opening of the bottle.

The invention seeks more particularly to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a closure device that is suitable for being put into place on the neck of a bottle in a manner that is easy and fast, and that also includes tamperproofing means that are reliable, and that cannot be put back into place after the device has been opened.

To this end, the invention provides a device for closing a bottle, the device comprising an overmolded cap and ferrule made of two different materials and prevented from moving relative to each other by tamperproofing means, the device further comprising fastener means for fastening to the neck of the bottle, the device being characterized in that a first element selected from the cap and the ferrule includes a peripheral tongue that is placed around substantially the entire outer periphery of the device and that forms said tamperproofing means, said tongue being connected to a body of said first element via tearable means and including patterns that are designed, when the tongue is connected to the body of said first element, to co-operate with complementary patterns formed in the second element selected from the cap and the ferrule.

According to other characteristics of the invention, that are advantageous:

-   the material constituting the cap is not adhesive relative to the     material constituting the ferrule; -   said tearable means comprise tear serrations; -   the tongue is connected to a body of the ferrule, said body being     designed to surrounding the neck of the bottle; -   the tongue covers the cap in part and includes indented patterns in     its inner peripheral surface, which patterns are substantially     complementary to patterns in relief formed on the outer peripheral     surface of the cap; -   said fastener means for fastening on the neck of the bottle comprise     a fastener ring and a stopper suitable for being screwed onto said     fastener ring, the cap and the stopper comprising complementary     means for preventing relative movement; -   said means for preventing the cap from moving relative to the     stopper comprise teeth projecting radially from the inner peripheral     surface of the cap and substantially complementary to teeth     projecting radially from the outer peripheral surface of the     stopper; -   the fastener ring includes means for preventing it from moving     axially or in rotation relative to the neck of the bottle; -   the fastener ring is connected to a pourer assembly; and -   the overmolded cap and ferrule are made by dual injection of two     different synthetic materials.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention appear from the following description of an embodiment of a closure device of the invention, given purely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a closure device in accordance with the invention, prior to being put into place on the neck of a bottle;

FIG. 2 is a view analogous to FIG. 1, the closure device being in place on the neck of the bottle;

FIG. 3 is a section of the FIG. 1 closure device, in the configuration of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1 closure device; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view from another angle showing some of the component elements of the FIG. 1 closure device.

The closure device D shown in FIG. 1 is designed to be fitted to the neck 11 of the bottle 1, e.g. containing high-value liqueur. The device D comprises a cap 2 and a ferrule 4 that are overmolded in conventional manner, one of these two elements being molded on the other element that then forms a molding support. The overmolded cap 2 and ferrule 4 are made of two different synthetic materials that do not adhere relative to each other. The device D further comprises means for fastening on the neck 11 of the bottle 1, namely a ring 5 for fastening on the neck 11 and a stopper 3 for closing the bottle 1.

The ring 5 has two concentric tubular portions 51 and 53 interconnected by a radial portion 55. The radial portion 55 is designed to bear against the mouth 13 of the bottle 1 so that the portion 51 extends along the outer surface 11 a of the neck 11, while the portion 55 extends towards the inner of the neck 11.

The outer portion 51 of the ring 5 has a series of teeth 57 suitable for engaging under a portion in relief 111 projecting from the outer surface 11A of the neck 11, in the vicinity of the mouth 13. The teeth 57 are distributed regularly around the outer portion 51. Each pair of teeth 57 defines a gap e for receiving a spline 115 projecting from the outer surface 11A of the neck 11, beneath the portion in relief 111. As shown in FIG. 1, the neck 11 has four splines 115 regularly distributed around the neck 11 and suitable for being received in four gaps e, situated at substantially 45° from one another and defined by four pairs of teeth 57 of the portion 51. In a variant, the number of splines 115 may be other than four, in particular it may be greater than four, the splines 115 being received in a corresponding number of gaps e.

Because of the co-operation between the teeth 57 and respectively the portion in relief 111 and the splines 115, the ring 5 is held stationary relative to the neck 11, both axially along the longitudinal axis X₁₁ of the neck 11, and in rotation about said axis.

The ring 5 also has a sleeve 59 projecting from the radial portion 55 away from the portions 51 and 53. The stopper 3 of the closure device D, that comprises a top wall 31 and a tubular rim 33 projecting from the top wall 31, is designed to be screwed onto the ring 5 so as to cover the sleeve 59. For this purpose, the outer surface 59A of the sleeve 59 is provided with a thread 58 suitable for co-operating with a thread 38 formed in the inner surface 33B of the rim 33. When screwed onto the sleeve 59, the stopper 3 closes the opening of the bottle 1.

Together, the overmolded cap 2 and ferrule 4 take the form of a single part suitable for being fitted by applying pressure on the stopper 3 and the ring 5 fastened on the neck 11 of the bottle 1. The cap 2 and the ferrule 4 are obtained by dual injection of two different synthetic materials that do not adhere relative to each other. By way of example, the cap 2 may be made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), while the ferrule 4 is made of polypropylene.

The cap 2 forms a top wall 21 and a tubular rim 23 extending from the top wall 21. The outer surface 23A of the rim 23 is provided with a groove 25 formed substantially around the entire outer periphery of the rim 23. In the example shown, the groove 25 includes four patterns 27 in relief that are regularly distributed on its outer surface. In a variant, the number of patterns 27 in relief may be other than four, in particular it may be greater than four.

The ferrule 4 comprises a tubular body 41 for surrounding the neck 11 of the bottle 1, and a tamperproofing tongue 43 connected to the body 41 by means of tear serrations 45. The tongue 43 extends substantially all the way around the body 41, with the exception of a zone Z adjacent to a grasping portion 43C that forms one end of the tongue 43.

In the example shown, the tongue 43 has four indented patterns 47 in its inner surface 43B that are substantially complementary to the four patterns 27 in relief on the cap 2. In a variant, the number of indented patterns 47 could be other than four, matching the number of patterns 27 in relief on the cap. Each pattern 27 in relief is suitable for engaging in an indented pattern 47, thereby creating a mortise-and-tenon type connection between the cap 2 and the ferrule 4. In a variant of the invention that is not shown, the patterns 27 of the cap may be indented patterns while the corresponding patterns 47 of the tongue are patterns in relief. The cap 2 and the ferrule 4 are overmolded with the patterns 27 and 47 mutually engaged so that the cap 2 is held stationary relative to the ferrule 4, axially along the longitudinal axis X₄ of the ferrule, and in rotation about said axis. When the ferrule 4 and the cap 2 are in place on the neck 11 of the bottle 1, the axes X₄ and X₁₁ coincide.

On the inner surface 23B of the rim 23, the cap 2 has teeth 29 projecting radially from the surface 23B and substantially complementary to teeth 39 projecting radially from the outer surface 33A of the rim 33 of the stopper 3. Furthermore, the ferrule 4 has a portion in relief 49 projecting from the inner surface 41B of the body 41 and suitable for snapping under the teeth 57 of the ring 5, as can be seen in FIG. 3. Thus, the overmolded cap 2 and ferrule 4 are suitable for covering the stopper 3 and the ring 5, the top wall 21 of the cap 2 bearing against the top wall 31 of the stopper 3, while the rim 23 of the cap 2 and the body 41 bear respectively against the rim 23 of the stopper 3 and the outer portion 51 of the ring 5. In this position, the overmolded cap 2 and ferrule 4 are prevented from moving relative to the stopper 3 and the ring 5, both axially along the axis X₄ by co-operation between the portion in relief 49 on the ferrule 4 and the teeth 57 of the ring 5, and in rotation about the axis X₄ by co-operation between the teeth 29 of the cap 2 and the teeth 39 of the stopper 3.

In this embodiment, and as can be seen in the figures, the closure device D also has a pouring element V comprising a main portion 7 and an end portion 9 having two superposed balls 6 and 8 housed between them, one forming ballast and the other a float. The assembly V, is itself known, and serves to prevent unauthorized filling of the bottle 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the preassembled closure device D is suitable for being put into place on the neck 11 of the bottle 1 by extending a pressure force P on the cap 2 substantially parallel to the coinciding axes X₄ and X₁₁. It is thus possible to obtain the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the device D is prevented from moving relative to the neck 11 of the bottle 1, both axially along the coinciding axes X₄ and X₁₁, and in rotation about these axes. Because of the mechanical connection between the cap 2 and the tongue 43 that results from co-operation between the patterns 27 and 47, the device D is not deformed under the effect of the pressure force P. Thus, the device D of the invention can be put into place easily and quickly, merely by exerting pressure on the cap 2. This operation can be performed by a press, repetitively and quickly, thereby serving to limit the cost of closing bottles.

In the configuration of FIGS. 2 and 3, the tongue 43 prevents the bottle 1 from being opened, holding the cap 2 stationary relative to the ferrule 4, both axially along, and in rotation about the coinciding axes X₄ and X₁₁. In order to open the bottle 1, it is necessary to separate the tongue 43 from the body 41 and the cap 2. This is performed by grasping the tongue 43 via the grasping portion 43C and by exerting sufficient traction force to tear the serrations 45 and separate the tongue 43 from the cap 2 where they are in contact, in particular via the complementary patterns 27 and 47. Separating the tongue 43 from the cap 2 does not require excessive force, since there is no adhesion between the materials constituting the ferrule 4 and the cap 2.

Once the tongue 43 has been separated in this way from the body 41 and the cap 2, the stopper 3 can be unscrewed from the ring 5 by exerting a turning force on the cap 2 which is constrained to turn with the stopper 3 by means of the complementary teeth 29 and 39. Thereafter the bottle can be reclosed by screwing the assembly formed by the cap 2 and the stopper 3 back onto the ring 5. Thus, the device D of the invention enables the bottle to which it is fitted to be opened safely and also enables the bottle to be reclosed in leaktight manner.

Since the tongue 43 extends substantially around the entire periphery of the body 41, it is difficult to reconstitute the connection between the tongue 43 and the body 41 after the serrations 45 have been torn. Thus, the device D of the invention provides a tamperproofing system that is reliable and not reusable.

The invention is not limited to the example described and shown. In particular, the device D need not have a pourer element to prevent filling. In addition, the overmolded cap 2 and ferrule 4 may be fastened on the neck 11 of a bottle 1 by fastener means other than the above-described stopper 3 and ring 5. In particular, the ferrule 4 may have teeth that are analogous to the teeth 57 of the ring 5 and that are arranged on its inner peripheral surface so as to prevent the overmolded cap 2 and ferrule 4 from moving axially or in rotation relative to the neck 11.

In a variant of the invention that is not shown, a tamperproofing peripheral tongue analogous to the tongue 43 may be connected to the rim 23 of the cap 2 via tearable means, such as tear serrations, the tongue then having patterns suitable for co-operating with complementary patterns of the ferrule 4. Thus, as in the above-described embodiment, the cap 2 and the ferrule 4 are prevented from moving relative to each other both axially and in rotation, but the tongue now belongs to the cap 2 instead of to the ferrule 4. As in the manner described above, the cap 2 and the ferrule 4 of this variant can be overmolded by dual injection of two different synthetic materials that do not adhere relative to each other. By way of example, the cap 2 and the tamperproofing tongue may be made of polypropylene, while the ferrule 4 is made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A device for closing a bottle, the device comprising: an overmolded cap and ferrule made of two different materials and prevented from moving relative to each other by tamperproofing means, and fastener means for fastening to a neck of the bottle, wherein a first element selected from the cap and the ferrule includes a peripheral tongue that is placed around substantially the entire outer periphery of the device and that forms said tamperproofing means, said tongue being connected to a body of said first element via tearable means and including patterns that are designed, when the tongue is connected to the body of said first element, to co-operate with complementary patterns formed in the second element selected from the cap and the ferrule.
 12. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein the material constituting the cap is not adhesive relative to the material constituting the ferrule.
 13. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein said tearable means comprise tear serrations.
 14. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein the tongue is connected to a body of the ferrule, said body being designed to surrounding the neck of the bottle.
 15. A closure device according to claim 4, wherein the tongue covers the cap in part and includes indented patterns in its inner peripheral surface, which patterns are substantially complementary to complementary patterns in relief formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cap.
 16. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein said fastener means comprise a fastener ring and a stopper suitable for being screwed onto said fastener ring, the cap and the stopper comprising complementary prevention means for preventing relative movement.
 17. A closure device according to claim 6, wherein said prevention means comprise teeth projecting radially from the inner peripheral surface of the cap and substantially complementary to teeth projecting radially from the outer peripheral surface of the stopper.
 18. A closure device according to claim 6, wherein the fastener ring includes means for preventing it from moving axially or in rotation relative to the neck of the bottle.
 19. A closure device according to claim 6, wherein the fastener ring is connected to a pourer assembly.
 20. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein the overmolded cap and ferrule are made by dual injection of two different synthetic materials. 